Vice President, Transportation Planning

WSP USA, Inc. is seeking a Vice President, Transportation Planning for our Seattle, WA office. This role provides leadership within a sector of the organization to ensure transportation planning subject matter, technical deliverables, and programs meet or exceed industry and company standards.

About the role

• Provide proactive and strategic leadership for the planning discipline, offering direction, expertise, and support to ensure project and work site deliverables and objectives are successfully met.
• Oversee the appropriate use and quality of transportation and traffic data to assess modal operations and effects of vehicles, transit, non-motorized, micromobility, and vehicles on transport systems.
• Guide the use of data sources including crash data, synthetic speed, volume, origin/destination, topographic maps, aerial photographs, GPS data, and visualization tools to determine project locations, associated sensitivities, and impacts.
• Lead larger-scale, complex transportation planning projects, ensuring contributors understand their tasks and deadlines, preparing and overseeing project budgets, monitoring external events, tracking hours, quality, and expenses, and supervising subcontractors and staff.
• Manage multi-disciplinary project teams in all phases of execution and delivery for siting, impact assessment, approval, permitting, and transportation planning projects.
• Foster compliance with applicable Federal, State, and Local Agency laws, policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Support the long-term strategy, growth, and pipeline development of Transportation Planning work for WSP, focusing on opportunities in planning, design, strategic consulting, and program management.
• Participate in business development, including identifying opportunities, developing pursuit strategies, and leading technical aspects of contract negotiation and presentations.
• Assist with annual updates to business tactical action plans within the specified area.
• Ensure planning discipline certifications, accreditations, and value proposition are continuously improved.
• Conduct needs analyses and client value surveys to align the planning discipline with business and project strategy, addressing skill gaps or risks.
• Schedule and lead planning discipline meetings, providing updates and recommendations to integrate expertise and innovation into project work.
• Serve as a lead representative/liaison for the planning discipline to external entities, including agencies, clients, subcontractors, and community groups.
• Develop and inform proposal and project scopes, timelines, pricing, and budgetary metrics.
• Interpret and summarize data to provide sound planning and regulatory conclusions, minimizing community, economic, and environmental impacts.
• Develop a client base for high-level Transportation Planning services, identifying business development opportunities and cross-selling WSP capabilities.
• Manage and provide performance guidance to assigned staff.
• Stay current on transportation planning trends, practices, regulations, and techniques, collaborating with professionals across disciplines to deliver future-ready solutions.
• Adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Transportation Planning, Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• 12+ years of experience in a corporate environment working in transportation planning, including general plans, specific/master plans, zoning code updates, public involvement, and regulatory compliance for equitable transportation development, demand management, mobility planning, multimodal access, and surface transportation.
• Strong working knowledge of relevant approval zoning laws, permitting requirements, notification and compliance practices, and applicable regulatory frameworks.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to interact effectively at all organizational levels.
• Tactical lateral thinking and strong analytical skills with attention to detail and prioritization in a high-pressure environment.
• Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources, including senior management, clients, and staff.
• Advanced proficiency with office automation, communication software, and related tools.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and adhering to WSP’s health, safety, and compliance policies.
• Ability to adapt to change and demonstrate flexibility with schedules and hours to meet business needs.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree is preferred.
• Professional licensure/certification such as PE or AICP.
• Experience managing the review and approval of discipline-specific deliverables, certifications, processes, and plans in a multi-project environment.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health coverage including medical, dental, and vision.
• Disability and life insurance.
• Retirement savings plans.
• Paid sick leave, vacation, and personal time.
• Paid parental leave.
• Paid time off for bereavement, voting, and naturalization proceedings.

Pay

Expected salary range: $150,600 - $223,600, based on education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location.